Nature-based solutions for coastal flood protection: potential for urban biodiversity and recreational ecosystem services in Helsinki

The purpose of this research is to study the potential of coastal floods to enhance both biodiversity and recreational ecosystem services in urban environments, with a particular focus on Helsinki, Finland. This research explores the paradigm shift in flood risk management from traditional and technically complex hard systems to nature-based solutions. These solutions leverage natural processes to manage flood risks while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. In this paper, research through designing methods are used to demonstrate how the interplay between practical applications and research leads to innovative approaches. First, three distinct urban coastline typologies in Helsinki are identified and classified by GIS analysis. Then, suitable nature-based solutions to these typologies are proposed to assess the potential of the urban coastline to provide flood protection, support biodiversity and offer recreational benefits. These findings confirm the need for paradigm shift to flood risk management, where floods are considered as opportunities for creating novel ecosystems that contribute to urban resilience and liveability. The research sheds new light on the need for innovative, nature-based adaptation approaches that benefit both human and ecological communities and present a novel approach to co-created urban sustainability.